Perfecting printing-machine having means for preventing offset



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(No Model.)

J. T. HAWKINS. PERFEGTING PRINTING MACHINE HAVING MEANS FOR PREVENTING OFFSET N0.'445,058. Patented Jan. 20,1891.

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PERFEGTING PRINTING MACHINE HAVING MEANS FOR PREVENTING OFFSET No. 445,058. Patented Jan. 20, 1891.

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J. T. HAWKINS. PEEPEGTING PRINTING MAGEINE HAVING MEANS EoE PREVENTING OFFSET.

No. 445,058. Patented Jan. 20,1891.

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No. 445,058. Patented Jan. 20, 1891.

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Y J. T. HAWKINS. PERFEGTING PRINTING MACHINE HAVING MEANS FOR PREVENTING OFFSET.

No. 445,058. Patented Jan. 20, 1891.

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JOHN T.

rrn STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

HATVKIXS, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PERFECTING PRlNTlNG-MACHINE HAVING MEANS FOR PREVENTING OFFSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,058, dated January 20, 1891.

Application filed March 28, 1889. Serial Ho. 305,191. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN T. HAWKINS, of Taunton, in the county of Bristol and State of lllassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Perfecting Printing- Ma-chines having Means for Preventing Offset, which invention is fully set forth and illustrated in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

The object of the invention is to provide a perfectin printing-machine printing from two flat forms adapted to operate with an apparatus for preventing offset of the ink from the freshly-printed first side upon the second impressioircylinder by means such as shown in my pending application, Serial No. 297,613, filed January 26, 1889, or any suitable means for removing the surplus ink from the first printed side on its passage from the first to the second impression-cylinder, and to provide said machine with means for heating the reversing-cylinder over which the sheet passes with its first-printed side out.

The invent-ion will first be described in detail, and then particularly set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of so much of a flat-bed perfecting printing-machine as is necessary to fully illustrate this invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the same in plan with the feed-board, angle-rollers, and fly omitted. Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, are diagrams on a smaller scale, showing the relative positions of the parts for five different positions in the machine. Fig. 8 shows a modification in the application of the transfer and offset apparatus. Fig. shows a detail of construction hereinafter fully described.

In said figures the several parts are indicated by refcrenee-nuinbers, as follows:

The number 1 indicates one of the main frames of the machine; 2, the type-bed earrying two forms and 4-, 3 printing the first and 1 the second side of the sheet.

The number 5 indicates the ink-rollers and 0 the distributing-rollers for form at, and 7 the ink-rollers and 8 the distributing-rollers for form 3. By suitable mechanism in any of well-known ways the rollers 7 and 8 are raised at the proper time to clear the form 4:, as shown in Fig. 1, and similarly rollers 5 and 6 are raised to clear form 3.

The number 9 indicates the feed-board; 10,

the first impression-cylinder, and 11 the sec- 55 0nd impression-eylinder, each geared in any of the well-known ways to the bed-recipro' eating mechanism, so as to make two revolutions for each impression, and also by any of the well-known methods arranged to rise and lower alternately to escape the forms on. the non-printing revolution and be held in contact therewith on the printing revolution.

The numbers 13 and 11 indicate the grippers, respectively, of cylinders and 11.

Upon a shaft 15, journaled in the frames 1, is secured a series of arms 16, carrying gripper-rests, as 17, and a rock-shaft 18, upon which is secured a series of grippers 19, whose points close upon the rests 17. The cylinder 20, journaled in the frames 1, of the same diameter as impression-cylinders 10 and 11, makes two revolutions to each sheet printed and carries grippers 21, and is so constructed, when desired, that it may be heated by steam or other means of heating admitted to its interior. One means of heating said cylinder is illustrated in section in Fig. 9, in which the number indicates one end of the cylinder, which is for convenience shown broken, 13 the cylinder-shaft, and at one journal of the cylinder. The shaft 13 is tubular or hollow, as indicated by the number 45, and that portion of it which is inside of the cylinder is perforated with holes 16. A steam-pipe 47, connected to the hollow shaft 43 by an ordinary stuffing-box as, carries steam into said shaft, from which it escapes into the bodyof the cylinder through said holes 16. Any suitable drainage may be provided for the steam or its water of condensation after having performed its ofiice of heating the cylinder. A well-known oscillating fly 21, oscillating upon a rock-shaft, receives the perfected sheet from the delivery-cylinder 22 and delivers it upon a receiving-table. (Not shown.) The impressiomcylinders 10 and 11, the sheet-conveyer or transfer-cylinder 16, and transfercylinders 20 and 22 are all geared together by proper spur-gears on their respective axes, meshing together at the lines of contact of the several cylinders, these gears being omit ted as unnecessary to illustrate this invention and as well understood in the art in such a construction. Each of the three cylinders 10, 11, and 20 make two revolutions, and the or the sheet passing over it, as hereinafter described. The cams 27, one mounted to oscillate on each end of the axis of cylinder 20, (shown in dotted lines only in Fig. 1,) are operated by suitable connection with the moving mechanism of the machine, and are so formed on their peripheral edges 28 as to operate upon the lower ends of the roller-sockets, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1,) so that when oscillated slightly to the left, Fig. 1, the three rollers 25 will be raised clear of the cylinder 20 or the sheet passing over it, while allowing rollers 26 to remain in contact, and a small oscillation to the right will drop rollers 25 into contact and raise rollers 26 from contact with cylinder 20 or the sheet passing over it.

The operation of the machine is as follows: As shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, the sheet is fed to grippers 13 of impression-cylinder 10 from he feed-board 9 win the usual way, and, as shown in Fig.3, the sheet is being carried partly around cylinder 10 and about to commence being printed on form 3. After the first revolution of cylinder 10 the grippers 19 of conveyer 16 take the sheet from grippers 13 of cylinder 10 and deliver it to grippers 21 of cylinder 20, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the rollers 26 being raised and the sheet passing under and in contact with rollers 25. In the position shown in Fig. 5 the grippers 13 of cylinder 10 have taken a second sheet and the first sheet has arrived under rollers 25, which are now raised clear of the sheet and run under and in contact with rollers 26, which are now dropped into contact until the parts assume positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, in which rollers 25 are down and rollers 26 up to clear the second sheet in its first time around cylinder 10. The first sheet, having successfuLy passed under rollers 25 and 26, hasbeen taken by the grippers 14 of cylinder 11 from the grippers 21 of cylinder 20 and is about to be printed on its second side. In Fig. 7 the first sheet has been printed on the second side by form 4, has been taken by the grippers 23 of the delivery-cylinder 22, and delivered partly down the fly 24. The second sheet has been once around cylinder 20 in contact with rollers 25, which are not raised to clear it, and the grippers 13 of cylinder 10 have taken the third sheet partly around and it is just about to be printed on form 3.

In the operation of the absorbent rollers 25 and 26 the first roller of the series 25 will be the first to be soiled, and the second and third less so in proportion to the amount of superfluous ink absorbed by the first roller from the sheet, and the entire series 25 running over the sheet the first time around (the se ries 26 running over the sheet only after the series 25 have removed most of the superfluous ink) will not become soiled so quickly, while the first of the series 26 will be soiled before the second or third of said'series, just as in the case of the series 25, so that in order to replace fresh absorbent roller-coverings, as the first roller of the series 26 will always be less soiled than the third roller of the series 25, it is only necessary to remove the first roller of the series 25, change the other five rollers one place to the left, and placeaclean roller in the third place of series 26, which may always be done without stopping the machine. For purposes of using the absorbent covering of rollers 25 and 26 on both sides, each alternate roller may be of sufficiently less diameter to allow the covering cut from the larger ones to lap on the smaller ones, as shown in my pending application, Serial No. 297,613.

Fig. 8 is constructed as described for Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, except as to rollers 25, 26, and 27, and transfer-cylinder 20, which latter may be so constructed, when desired, as to be heated by steam or other means of heating led to its interior through hollow bearings or in any other suitable way, as hereinbefore set forth in describing Fig. 9 on that part occupied by the sheet, allowing the partnever covered by the sheet to be kept comparatively cool to prevent the ink received from rollers 25 26 from drying on it, which is effected by the partition 42. In Fig. 8 the rollers 25 and 26 are one half the diameter of the transfercylinder 20, and are journaled in levers inside the frames 1 1, which levers are secured to each end of a rock-shaft 34, which in turn is journaled in the main frame 1 1. At one end, secured to the rock-shaft 3% outside the frame 1, is a lever 35, to which is articulated a rod 86, through connection of which to any suitable moving part of the machine the rollers 25 and 26 are made to alternately comein contact with the cylinder 20 and the sheet upon it, so that the roller 25 shall roll over the sheet and cylinder on the first revolution of cylinder 20 with a sheet upon it and roller 26 roll over the sheet and cylinder on the second revolution of the cylinder 20 with the same sheet upon it. Rollers 25 and 26 are covered with an elastic non-absorbent mate rial similar to that used for the form-rollers of printing-machines, which shrink with use, or with rubber or other suitable elastic substance, such as will not shrink in use, coated with a compound non absorbent varnish, which is impervious to printing-ink, but will readily take up ink from the sheets and deposit it upon the uncovered part of the circumference of cylinder 20, and the other se ries 27 are first covered with an elastic covering, as felt or india-rubber, and an outer renewable covering of some absorbent material, preferably a common grade of paper. The

sheet when on cylinder 20 occupies less than half its circumference--that is, from the grippers 21 to the point SO-and from the points 31 to 32 the periphery of cylinder 20 is finished with such a surface or covered with a compound non-absorbent varnish, such as will readily receive ink from the rollers 25 and 26 without absorbing it, and as readily give it up again to the absorbent or wiping rollers 27. The rollers 27 are operated by a cam 29 (shown in dotted lines, not hereinbefore described) to rise and lower at the proper time, so that the rollers 27 will be raised clear of the sheet and lowered into contact with the blank or varnished part of the periphery of cylinder 20 at every revolution. The rollers 25 and 26 may be driven by frictional contact with the sheet, or may be geared so as to have an equality of surface velocity with the cylinder 20. The rollers 27 are driven positively by spur-gears on their axes, meshing with the gear on 'the axis of cylinder 20. The pitch-lines of the gears on the axes of the several rollers 27 being at variance with the rollers diameter, sufficient to cause a disparity of surface velocity between the peripheries of the rollers 27 and cylinder 20, thus cause said rollers to have a slight wiping action. These gears are not shown, as unnecessary to illustrate this invention.

The operation of the modification shownin Fig. 8 is as follows: The sheet is fed to the grippers 13 of cylinder 10, printed on the corresponding form 3 during its first revolution, taken by the grippers 19 of the sheet-conveyer or transfer-cylinder 16, delivered thence to the grippers 21 of transfer-cylinder 20, carried under and in contact with roller 25 on its first revolution on cylinder 20, giving up the main portion of the superfluous ink to it, passing under roller 26 at the second revolution on cylinder 20 and under 27 without contact on both revolutions of cylinder 20, then passing to the impression-cylinder 11, printed on its second side, and thence to the deliverycylinder 22 and to the fly 24, or to any other final delivery apparatus. Meanwhile the rollers 25 and 26 at each revolution deposit the ink received from the sheet upon the uncovered part of cylinder 20, and rollers 27 remove the ink deposited by rollers 25 and 26 from the blank or unvarnished part of the periphery of cylinder 20 at every revolution. Of rollers 27 the first of the series will first become soiled and the following two in proportion. Therefore to replace a soiled covering the first roller of the series is removed and the remainder moved each one place to the left and a newly-covered roller put in the third place, which operation may always be I performed Without stopping the machine.

The grippers of the sheet-conveyer 16 describe a circle one-half the diameter of the transfer-cylinder 20, which is of equal diameter with the impression-cylinders and 11;

but I do'not confine myself to the comparative diameters of circles described by the grippers of sheet-conveyer 16, cylinder 20, delivery-cylinder 22, and impression-cylinders 10 and 11 herein shown, nor to the number of revolutions they shall make to each sheet printed; nor do I confine myself to the number of the rollers 25 and 26 to be used,as the grippers of the sheet-conveyer 16 or the delivery-cylinder22 may be made to describe a circle of the same diameter as or one-quarter the diameter of the transfer-cylinder 20, and the transfer-cylinder may be made twice the diameter of the impression-cylinders 10 and 11, it being necessary only to observe in the case of transfer-cylinder 20 that if it be made twice the diameter of the impression-cylinders 10 and 11 and make but one revolution to each sheet printed the rollers and 26 will not require to be lifted from contact, and thus the lifting mechanism may be dispensed with.

The mechanism for operating the several sets of grippers has been omitted, as these constructions, being well known in the art, are unnecessary to illustrate this invention.

I do not confine myself to the method shown for raising and lowering the two sets of rollers 25 and 26, as this may be accomplished in many different ways. For some kinds of ink and work it will be advantageous to have the reversing-cylinder 20 heated by steam or other means, as described. The transfercylinder 20 is heated, in order that, with the sheets in contact with it, the ink may sink more completely into the fiber of the sheets, and thus tend to lessen superfluous ink to be offset.

Having. thus fully described my said improvements as of my invention, I claim-- In a perfecting printing-machine printing from flat forms, as 3 and 4, in combination with two impression-cylinders, as 10 and 11, carrying grippers, as 13 and 14:, a sheet-conveyer, as 16, carrying grippers, as 19, a re versing-cylinder, as 20, carrying grippers, as 21, placed and timed in the machine so as to receive the sheets printed on their first sides on their passage from the first to the second impression-cylinder without contact of their first-printed sides with said sheet-conveyer and with their said sides exposed upon said reversing-cylinder, and an ink-offset apparatus applied to the first-printed sides of the sheets for the purpose of removing surplus ink therefrom during their passage upon said transfer-cylinder, whereby superfluous ink is removed from the freshly-printed first sides of the sheets and offset upon the second impression-cylinder prevented, substantially as setforth.

JOI-I1\ T. HAWKINS.

\Vitnesses:

J. F. HALEY, ALBERT J. PARK. 

